Portable drill rig



1950 A. FEUCHT PORTABLE DRILL RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1944 IN, V EN TOR.

tmq/w IMTTQ WNE Y Aug. 29, 1950 FEUCHT 2,520,390

PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Nov. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 all":

FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

ALBERT FEUOHT ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1950 FEUCHT 2,520,390

PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Nov. 22, 1944 4 Sfieets-Sheet a INVENTOR. ALBERT FEUOHT ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1950 A. FEUCHT 2,520,390

PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Nov. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 1 F\G.8 1 I? i E i I i i l 29 INVENTOR. ALBERT FEUGHT BY 5 e E ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE DRILL RIG Application November 22, 1944, Serial No. 564,583

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a new and improved portable drill rig and more particularly to an improved mounting for a rock drill feeding mechanism.

An important objectof the invention is to provide an adjustable support for a rock drill in which a relatively. heavy member of a rigid and otherwise light-weight frame supporting the rock drill is slidably mounted on relatively heavy side members or housings, the latter carrying wheels for rendering the device readily portable.

Another object is to provide a novel and im-- proved portable rig for a rock drill so constructed and arranged that the drill or the mount therefor can be adjusted vertical with but slight longitudinal movement of the center of gravity of the rig relative to the points of support under the wheels. In the prior art devices, vertical movement of the rock drill feed was accompanied by such longitudinal movement of the center of gravity of a rig to a degree requiring the employment of relatively heavy frame members to counteract it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support for a rock drill feed that is easily and readily movable to any position and one which can be used for vertical or horizontal drilling regardless of the slope of the ground.

Other objects andnovel features ofthe invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a Side elevational view illustrating the drill rig in position for drilling a vertical hole;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the drill rig in position for drilling a horizontal hole;

Figure 3 is a front elevational View .of the deviceas used in Figure 1;

Figure 415 afront elevational View of the device as used on an uneven surface;

Figure 5 is a top plan of the support with the drill removed therefrom;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 6-45 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 'L-l'of Figure 6;

Figure B is a fragmentary sectional view through the drill supporting means, being taken substantially on line e--8 of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side eleva tional view looking in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the means for supporting the rock drill, generally designated by the reference numeral Ill, consists of a frame, generally designated by the reference numeral l l, which includes a substantially U- haped member HA and a transverse member or cross bar I 2. The cross bar 12 carries near each end thereof a T-shaped fitting it which includes a sleeve ISA in which is received each leg of the frame member HA, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The fitting I3 is welded or otherwise secured to both the frame member A and the cross bar 12 to form a rigid frame.

As is to be understood, the rock drill I!) which is of conventional construction, is adjustably supported on the cross bar ii of the frame H, the means of attachment being shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. This means comprises a coneshaped member l 5 carried by and forming a part of the drill guiding means I6 by means of a band [1 encircling said means. Extending from the cone-shaped member 15 is a lock bolt l8 carrying a lock nut l9 and thrust washer 20, the nut l9 and washer 20 hearing against the female coneshaped member 2| for frictionally seating the male cone l5 against the female cone 2|. This entire assembly is in turn fixed to the cross bar 12 by means of the clamping arm 22 and 23 whichare pivotally connected at 24 to the female cone member and locked on said cross bar l2 by means of the bolt and nut 25 and 26, respectively. It is to be understood that the guide means It and its associated members can be rotated relatively to the cross bar l2 and moved axially thereof upon loosening the nut 26. Tightening said nut will securely clamp the arms 22 and 23 to lock the guide means in its adjusted position. The means of supporting the rock drill including the guiding means [6, forms no part of the present invention and any other means for supporting the drill can be employed.

In accordance with the present invention, a means has been provided for raising and lowering the front end of the frame I i including the cross bar [2 and its associated mechanisms to properly position the drill and rig to make the device read-- ily useable regardless of the formation of the terrain with which it is associated. This: means includes spaced, generally vertical elongated side members or housings comprising twin support tubes 2i and 28 positioned at each end of the cross bar l2 and connected thereto by the members it which are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to said cross bar. The upper ends of the tubes 2i and 28 are closed by caps 29 and 35 resp v ly a d are held rigidly parallel to each other by means of these caps which are welded or otherwise secured thereto.

That portion of the member It extending vertically from the frame cross bar I2 is formed with spaced sleeves or guide yokes 3i and 32 f arcuate shape to permit them to slide relative to the tubes 2i. In the succeeding portion of this description there will only be described the details of construction of the member l l positioned on one end of the cross bar IE, but it is to be understood that both members are identical in construction and are connected to the twin tubes 2? and 28 in a like manner.

Between the yokes 3i and 3?. of the member it there is positioned a slide clamp 3.3 having a pair of arcuate-shaped clamping surfaces 3 3, which conform with the cylindrical surface of the tubes El. Thus the tubes are held between the arcuateshaped portions of the yokes 3i and 32 and the slide clamp This slide clamp is formed with a central boss portion 35 in which there is formed a vertical bore and a horizontal bore ill. A bolt 33 extends from the boss 35 through the bore 3'5 and through a bore 89 in the member Ml, the bores El and Eli being in alignment. 7 nut M! and thrust washer :ll are mounted on the bolt 38 exteriorly of the member M and when tightened, securely fasten the clamp 33 in engagement with the tubes 2?.

Vertically extending between the twin tubes 2'5, there is an adjusting screw 42 adapted to be actuated for raising or lowering the front end of the frame 8 l including the crossbar l2,member i l and its associated mechanism relative to the tubes 2 The upper end of this screw extends through an opening .3 formed centrally of the cap 29 and projects beyond said cap, the projecting end having attached thereto a crank arm 34. The crank arm is keyed or otherwise secured to the adjusting screw, as indicated at $5 and'is spaced from the cap by means of a washer 45. The adjusting screw 62 is formed with an annular shoulder ll which has bearing engagement withthe lower face 38 of the cap 29, as clearly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The means for raising and lowering the member i l also includes an adjusting nut 49 which is carried within the vertical bore 36 of the clamp 33. The adjusting nut has a cap 56 formed on its up' end which is positioned above the clamp and the cap is in turn formed with transversely extending keys 5:! above the lower surface 52. of the yoke 3i and receivable in a notch formed in said yoke. This construction prevents rotation of the nut as as the screw 32 is rotated by means of the handle M. In practice, the thread on the adjusting screw 32 is lefthanded therefore clockwise rotation of the handle will cause the adjusting screw nut is to move in a downward direction and, conversely, counter-clockwise rotation of the handle at wi l cause the nut to move upwardly.

When the nut ll is loosened to free the clamp 33 from the twin tubes the combined weight of the cross bar it, the slide member i i, and the clamping members within it is then supported by the nutill on the threads of the adjusting screw 52,. through the lower surface 52 of the yoke 35 restin upon the upper surface of the l 5? As it is to be understood, the clamp 33 is slidably operated freely between the cap 553 and thelower guide yoke. 32. It will readily be seen that upwc d .movement of the nut '59 will be directly imparted to the slide member M and cross bar 52, and that downward movement of the nut ll will simply lower the member l4 and all the members which are supported by it. If, for any reason, there should be encountered resistance to downward movement of the member positive pressure from the nut 29 would be immediately applied to said member through the tion of the lower end of the nut ii against the lowe guide yoke 32, and therethrough to the member l lns ocl to it.

'elded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of tubes and 28 are the U-shaped clamps and respectively hich carry axles on which are mounted the ground-engaging wheels 56 and El, by means of which the rig is portable and can be readily moved from one drilling location to another in wheel-barrow fashion. When moving the rig, the frame 5 2 serves as handles to be engaged by the operator and the entire rig can be pushed or pulled with the wheels 53 and El acting as traction members.

Secured to the very ends of the twin support tubes 2'5 and by means'of bolts 58 there are the adjusting screw supports 59 and to respectively, each of which is formed with a central boss EH intermediate the ends thereof, in which is suitably journalled the lower end of the adjusting screw A stake or the like 52 held by set screw 63 is clamped by means i i to the frame H and is adjustable relative to the frame for supporting it in various positions, shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In the operation of this means of support for h frame it, when the rig is changed from a poit on for horizontal drilling as shown in Figure 0 a position for vertical drilling as shown in i 'ure 1 or i, it is only required to release the set ew 63 and clamping means t l to bring about the necessary. adjustment. A similar stake is d by a set screw 65 at the front end of the drill guiding means it and serves to steady the front end of said guiding means when the drill is in operation. Adjustment of these stakes is thought to be readily obvious, and since they form no part of the present invention a description of their operation is not thought necessary.

To free the clamping members within the slide member M from their grip on the vertical tubes 2'? and 28, the is loosened with a wrench, after which the crank arm at is turned to rotate the adjusting screw 52 about its axis, the screw being held in the cap 29 between the washer l6 and the shoulder ll. Clockwise rotation of the crank arm M will cause downward movement and counter-clockwise rotation upward movement of the end or" the cross bar I? through the functioning of the adjusting screwnut as as described above. Adjustment of the position of the rig may be made by operating he handles 44 in unison, or by cranking first one side and then the other to move the ends of the cross bar a few inches at a time. The pitch of the thread on the adjusting screws 52 is nonreversible and permits the operatorto leave one side of the adjusting mechanism unclarnped while he is adjusting the other side. Following the desired adjustment of the cross bar l2 either up or down, it is positioned securely against vibration of the rig by'tightening the clamp nut ee. The results of such action are best seen in Figure '7 wherein it will be noted that tightening of the nut 40 draws toward it the head oi the bolt 38 and thereby the slide clamp 33, Pressure from the two :ie cross bar 12 rigidly conasa eeo clamping surfaces zSi-t:isldirected toward: theitubes 21!.

When desiring to change the drill rigzlfromuthe position shown I lI1lFiglllT62tO0l1e such as shown iniFigure 1 or. .iFigureB; it is necessary to operate thet pneumatic motorof the .drill. guiding means it to run the drillba'ck on saidguiding means and withclrawzthe drill steel from the hole. Following thiathe set screwi-tt must be loosenedgandthe stalee tb withdrawn from the worle face Whereit hasbeen embedded, in order to permitthe drill guiding means it to be raised. Bothslide clamp nuts aceare then loosened to free the grip ofthe slide member 34 and its associated mechanism on the twin support tubes 21 in the manner mentioned above. Both handles d i are then cranked counter-clockwise to raise the cross bar end of the frame until the upper slide yokes s l approach the upper limit of their travel as shown inFigure 1, in which position the-slide parts are then clamped by tightening the nuts 4E. Elevation of the clamping means 64 on the stake'cz to the position shown in Figure 1 completes the adjust ments of the frame and supporting members. The drill guiding means, which was not disturbed from its positionrelative to the frame I l as shown in Figure 2, would then be up-tilted beyond the horizontal, and to move it to the position shown in Figure 1 or 3, it is merely necessary to loosen the clamp nut 25;, pivot the entire drill guiding means about the cross bar E2 to the vertical positionshown, and then tighten'the nut 26.

It will be noted that in this. present position, with the slide parts at the upper limits of their travel, the support tube assemblies or side housings will have been pivoted about the axles on the U-shaped clamps 5t and 55 from a position slightly overhanging the point of wheel support to a position slightly inside said point of support, and that the center of gravity of these assemblies or members will have shifted longitudinally of the frame ii to a position slightly farther to the right of the point of wheel support than said center of gravity occupied in the setting shown in Figure 2. of the rig is, however, not excessive, for most of the weight of the rig continues to be supported by the wheels irrespective of whether the cross bar is low or high, or the drill guiding means is horizontal or vertical, and only nominal lifting pressure is required to support the far end of the frame near the stake 62.

To move the rig from level ground, such as shown in Figure l, to sloping ground, such as shown in Figure l, it is only necessary to grasp the frame l l near the stake 62 and, by lifting and using this part of the frame as a handle, to roll the rig on the wheels 56 and '5? from one position to another. When the drill rig is thus placed sideways on a slope, the cross bar l2 will lie parallel to the slope and the rig will be tilted. In order to level up the rig as shown in Figure 4, the slide clamp nut iii on the high side of the cross bar it is loosened and the crank arm l on this side is turned clockwise to lower that end of the cross bar until it becomes level. The slide clamp not All is then tightened to lock the framework rigidly.

It will thus be seen that a simple and practical means has been provided for moving one or both ends of the cross bar i2 relative to the support tubes 27! and 2 for adjusting the drill rig for any type of work. The adjustment can be rapidly accomplished with a minimum amount of time This change toward greater stability andteffort. The-supporting meansifurther .provides for centering thddlillinia manner to? facilitate its transportation from one :drilling location toianother.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily rof. a detailed character, in order to completelyset forth the invention, it is to be understood that the spec'ific terminology is not intended to he restrictive or confining and it is to be furunderstood that various. rearrangements of parts and modifications bfstructural detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

-l. in a portable rig for supportinga rock drill, the coznbination of: a drill supporting frame including a substantially U-shaped member and a crossbar; a pair of spaced, generally vertical side members adjacent toeach end of said cross bar; a ground-engaging wheel connected to each pair of said-side members adjacent to thelower ends thereof; connecting means between the ends of saidcrossbar andtheir adjacent pair of-side members including guide'yolies-slidable on said side-members; and means including an adjusting screw carried by each pairof said side members for'eifecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross barandsi-de membersin a direction longitudinal of said side members.

2. In 'aportable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of: a drill supportingframe including a substantially U-shaped member and across bar; a pair of spaced, generally vertical side members adjacent to-each end of said cross bar; a ground engaging wheel connected to each pair of said side members adjacent to the lower ends thereof; connecting means between the ends of said cross bar and their adjacent pair of side members including guide yokes slidable on said side members; means including an adjusting screw carried by each pair of said side members for effecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross bar and side members in a direction longitudinal of said members, and means for locking the ends of said cross bar to their adjacent pair of side members selectively.

3. In a portable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of a drill supporting frame including a cross bar; a pair of spaced, generally vertical side members adjacent to each end of said cross bar; a ground engaging wheel connected to each pair of said side members adjacent to the lower ends thereof; and connecting means between said cross bar and side members including a pair of guide yokes rigidly secured to each end of said cross bar slidably mounted on the pair of side members adjacent thereto, an adjusting screw: carried by each pair of side members in operative engagement with a nut carried by each pair of said yokes for effecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross bar and side members in a direction longitudinal of said side members.

4. In a portable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of a drill supporting frame including a cross bar; a pair of spaced, generally vertical side members adjacent to each end of said cross bar; a ground engaging wheel connected to each pair of said side members adjacent to the lower ends thereof; and connecting means between said cross bar and side members including a pair of vertically spaced guide yokes rigidly secured to each end of said cross bar slidably mounted on the pair of side members adjacent thereto, and a clamp in the vertical space between said yokes operatively engageable with said side members for fixedly securing said cross bar to said side members.

5. In a portable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of: a frame including a drill supporting cross bar; a generally vertical stanchion adjacent to each end of said cross bar, said stanchions each including twin support tubes spaced transversally relative to said cross bar; a ground engaging wheel connected to each stanchion adjacent to the lower end thereof; connecting means between said cross bar and stanchions including a guide rigidly secured to each end of said cross bar slidably mounted on the stanchion adjacent thereto; and an adjusting screw carried by each stanchion in operative engagement with a nut carried by each guide for effecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross bar and stanchions in a direction longitudinally of said stanchions.

6. In a portable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of: a frame including a drill supporting cross bar; a generally vertical stanchion adjacent to each end of said cross bar, said stanchions including twin support tubes spaced transversally relative to said cross bar, a clamp rigidly securing the lower ends of said tubes to each other; a ground engaging wheel operatively carried by said clamp; connecting means between said cross bar and stanchions including a guide rigidly secured to each end of said cross bar slidably mounted on the stanchion adjacent thereto; and an adjusting screw carried by each stanchion in operative engagement with a nut carried by each guide for effecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross bar and stanchions in a direction longitudinally of said stanchions.

7. In a portable rig for supporting a rock drill, the combination of: a frame including a drill supporting cross bar; a generally vertical stanchion adjacent to each end of said cross bar, said stanchions including twin support tubes spaced transversally relative to said cross bar, a clamp rigidly securing the lower ends of said tubes to each other, a cap rigidly securing the upper ends of said tubes to each other; a ground engaging wheel operatively carried by said clamp; connecting means between said cross bar and stanchions including a guide rigidly secured to each end of said cross bar slidably mounted on the stanchion adjacent thereto; and an adjusting screw carried by said cap in operative engagement with a nut by said guide for effecting relative adjustment between the ends of said cross bar and stanchions in a direction longitudinally of said stanchions.

ALBERT FEUCH'I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,865 Burgess et a1. May 26, 1885 999,123 Pennington July 25, 1911 1,219,150 Raney et a1 Mar. 13, 1917 2,174,415 Curtis Sept. 26, 1939 

